Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2014 season, but the team would like to lock him into a long-term deal. DANNY MOLOSHOK, AP

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Dodgers left a trail of dollar signs all the way to their spring training camp at Camelback Ranch this year. But it doesn't seem likely there will be another big expenditure before Opening Day.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw shook his head in the negative when asked Tuesday if there had been any overtures from the Dodgers to open talks on a contract extension and said he does not want to discuss contract matters once the season starts. That leaves just a little more than a six-week window to negotiate what could be the most lucrative contract ever given to a pitcher.

"I don't think I'm going to let it go into the season – if it happens at all," Kershaw said as Dodgers pitchers and catchers reported for spring training Tuesday. "I'm not saying, 'Get it wrapped up' or anything. I'm just saying, during the season, I'm not talking about it."

Kershaw will make $11 million this season in the second year of a two-year, $19 million deal and is not eligible for free agency until after the 2014 season. But Dodgers GM Ned Colletti acknowledged earlier this off-season that he hoped to lock his ace into a multi-year contract extension.

"It hasn't changed," Colletti said Tuesday of his desire to negotiate a multi-year extension with his team's ace. "We're not going to publicly address it. Whatever we'll do, we'll do in a quiet way."

The price tag seemed to go up with this week's announcement that the Mariners and Felix Hernandez had reached agreement on a seven-year, $175 million contract extension. Even before that, there had been speculation that the 24-year-old Kershaw could be the first pitcher to reach the $200 million mark, a prospect he shrugged off Tuesday.

"Obviously, you know how much people make. That's just part of the game," Kershaw said. "I think more than anything, you have to live up to the responsibility of being a baseball player every day, on and off the field. ... I think the more money you make, the more responsibility you have, for sure."

Kershaw said he hasn't given much thought to how much he wants to make or how long he wants his next contract to run – then admitted he was being disingenuous with that.

"I have (thought about it). I'm being polite," he said of his attempt to deflect the topic.

"It's people talking. It doesn't really bother me. I don't love that it's in the paper. But I know that's the game. At the same time, my only concern at this point is getting ready for April 1. All that stuff will take care of itself."

Kershaw said he already has one issue behind him. He said he addressed the hip inflammation that bothered him late last season with some strengthening exercises at the start of the off-season and hasn't had any recurrence of the problem since. He has already thrown off a mound in anticipation of spring training and is one of the pitchers scheduled to throw a bullpen session during Wednesday's first workout.

Outfielders Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford were among the position players reporting to camp early on Tuesday. They were joined by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, infielder Luis Cruz, shortstop Dee Gordon and a few others.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said the team will "go slow with" Kemp and Crawford, both of whom are recovering from surgery. Kemp had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder in October while Crawford had wrist surgery a year ago and Tommy John surgery on his left elbow last August.

Crawford said he has progressed in his throwing program without any pain in his elbow. He has been throwing every other day from 45 feet, stretching out to 60 feet. He has also started swinging a bat the past three weeks, hitting soft toss and off a tee with expectations of taking live batting practice for the first time later this week.

Asked if he expected to be ready to play on Opening Day, Crawford said he was confident he'd be ready – but it depended on what the Dodgers are expecting from his surgically-repaired throwing arm.

"I think I can hit the cutoff man by Opening Day but I don't know if that's where they want me to be when I come back," Crawford said. "We'll see how it goes. ... I think of myself as an everyday player. But I understand where they might want to ease me in at first."

NOTES

With no obvious backup first baseman behind Gonzalez, Mattingly said utilitymen Jerry Hairston Jr. and Juan Uribe would work at the position this spring. Uribe has never played there as a professional. Hairston has made two brief appearances there in the majors. "A.J. has played there in the past," Mattingly said of catcher A.J. Ellis. "But I don't really like the thought of doing that (with his primary catcher). I really like the thought of Adrian playing 150 games or more over there." ... Mattingly reiterated his plans to have each of the team's eight starting pitchers work as such during the spring with no plans to convert any to relief at this point. Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Josh Beckett and Chris Capuano are scheduled to throw bullpen sessions during the team's first workout Wednesday. Mattingly wouldn't talk about which starters he saw as most suited to moving to the bullpen if it comes to that. "We've got eight guys that we're going to be working as starters and we'll see where it goes," Mattingly said. "We want a competitive world, to be honest with you." ... Hyun-jin Ryu was asked if he would be open to moving to the bullpen. "I don't plan on that," he said through a translator, smiling as he said it.

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